Graduate student and Associated Student Body president Mariam Salameh pledges to make a difference in the lives of individuals living with disabilities at the Alpha Pi Sigma booth in the CSUS quad ...

The sisters of the Alpha Pi Sigma sorority at California State University, Stanislaus are working to increase awareness and equality for disabled individuals through their newfound partnership with The Society for Disabilities.

While most national sororities have one designated philanthropic organization in which they support, the Alpha Pi Sigma sorority is different in that local chapters can adopt a cause which they feel will make a greater local impact. For the Alpha Pi Sigma sisters that was the Modesto-based Society, which the students adopted one month ago.

"We wanted something that would hit home locally and I know a lot of these girls, including myself, have friends or family members with disabilities. We were looking through different organizations to adopt and we all came to the conclusion that this is the one we wanted to support," said Corina Sanchez, philanthropy chair of Alpha Pi Sigma.

Alpha Pi Sigma aims to not only cultivate sensitivity towards those with disabilities but to also generate equality on the campus and in the community at large. Sisters of the sorority have posted up in the campus quad all week with information on the Society's cause and asked students to make a pledge. Unlike typical monetary pledges, the sorority is asking students to make a "social commitment" and write down how they will help individuals with disabilities whether that means making an effort to reach out and be kind or spread the word about the sorority's cause beyond the confines of the campus. The sisters of Alpha Pi Sigma also do more than provide students with information as they live out their mission in their volunteer work outside of school.

"The third Thursday of every month we also volunteer at McHenry Bowl in Modesto through the Society for their adapted bowling project, which allows adults and children to do activities that everyone enjoys, like bowling, but adapted to their needs," said Sanchez.

Sanchez and her sisters are also offering the community a free event on Thursday for individuals with disabilities that includes games, storytelling and informational sessions for adults. The event, which is also facilitated by other organizations within the Greek system on campus, will take place at the CSU Stanislaus quad from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

"We just wanted to host a day for those with disabilities to come and have fun," said Sanchez.